Nadal reached first grand slam quarter-final since 2015 French Open * To meet third seed Milos Raonic for place in semis
Australian Open Day 10
Rafael Nadal v/s Milos Raonic
Time: 2 pm (IST)
On TV: Sony Six
Live streaming: Sonyliv.com
Rafa Nadal returned to the grand slam big-time by weathering a furious Gael Monfils fightback to win 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-4 and reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.
Former champion Nadal had not reached the last eight in a major since the 2015 French Open, so he celebrated wildly after closing out the two-hour 56-minute clash at a packed Rod Laver Arena.
It was not the most convincing of wins for the 30-year-old Spaniard, who became rattled when sixth seed Monfils rallied brilliantly in the third set and went up 4-2 in the fourth.
But Nadal summoned the resilience of his halcyon days to win four straight games and keep his pursuit of a 15th grand slam title alive.
Novak Djokovic may be absent after his shock second-round elimination but third seed Milos Raonic looms as a massive roadblock to Nadal's hopes of a first grand slam semi-final since winning his last French Open in 2014.
"For me, it means a lot because I really start the season playing quarter-finals in a grand slam again, especially on a hard court (and) after a couple of years without being in this round is great news," ninth seed Nadal told reporters, still bathed in sweat after his work on a muggy evening.
"Very happy with an important victory against a very good opponent. When you lost the third (set), you are down 4-2 in the fourth, you are not under control, no. That's the real thing."
Monfils came into the match with a 12-2 losing record against Nadal and the flamboyant Frenchman started as if weighed down by the history.
(With Reuters Inputs)
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